IT specialist comes home to ‘vibrant’ Rochdale

Posted by on 19 Apr 2023

As part of our 30th birthday celebrations we’re speaking to some of region’s most established companies.

David Brereton literally knows what most businesses in Rochdale are up to.

That’s because he’s the managing director and owner of IT Managed Service Provider MysonPages, which is approaching its 25th year and looks after 200 clients and their 2,500 desktops and laptops.

The company started life in Drake Street, Rochdale, and after a spell out the borough they relocated to Zen Internet’s offices in Sandbrook House two years ago.

Brereton knew Zen’s founder and CEO Richard Tang and said moving to Rochdale felt like ‘returning home’.

“Richard and I grew up on the same street in Rochdale, Shawclough Way, and now Sandbrook House home to Zen Internet is the perfect location for Myson Pages,” he said.

The entrepreneur said the town is unrecognisable from the one he remembers three decades ago.

“When the RDA was launched in 1993 I was 23, living in Rochdale and working for a software house,” he said.

“There was no tram and we had this image of being a rundown Northern mill town. Now we’re much more vibrant. The town centre has undergone huge investment, with the river being opened up and when the multi-million pound restoration of Rochdale Town Hall is complete it will be transformational.”

Brereton said MysonPages is similarly very different from the business he launched nearly a quarter of a century ago.

“Rochdale isn’t reliant on its mills anymore. It has a strong manufacturing base and, as some industries have gone, new ones have emerged to replace them. Our clients have changed over the years and Rochdale is full of amazing businesses, many of which we’re proud to call clients.”

Brereton said the way Rochdale, and the RDA especially, rallied together during Covid was astonishing.

“During Covid we loved the way all the Rochdale businesses came together to support each other,” he recalled. In moving back to Rochdale we decided to aim to become the default choice for businesses in the borough. We’re pleased to work with Springhill Hospice and have a long association with the football club, both rugby teams and the golf club too, as well as many SMEs. We’ve got involved in the foodbank, the soup kitchen, giving a little back where we can, and will try and be that ever present voice. A lot of our staff are from Rochdale. When home became work and work became home, spending an hour on the commute seemed ridiculous so Zen Internet is a perfect base for us.”

MysonPages hit £1m turnover in its 21st year and are tracking for £1.5m in their landmark 25th year.

Brereton also praised the work of the Rochdale Development Agency.

“During Covid the RDA came into their own, keeping a dialogue going,” he said. “None of us knew what was happening. They provided leadership, cohesion and brought the community together, and that’s still working today. There are some fantastic businesses in Rochdale. It’s a vibrant place. Kingsway is a big asset, there’s a great manufacturing base and there’s a lot of excitement about AMPI and Atom Valley. There are a lot of innovative and unique businesses that you would never imagine would be based in Rochdale. Working with so many we really appreciate what the town has.”